Carton loading machine



0f.v11, 193s. R. A. JONES 2,133,248 f CARTON LOADING MACHINE Fild Oct. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1938.

,A R. A. JONES CARTON LOADING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 4, 1935 IIIIIIIIIIIH 4 L "'llllllllllll glut ATTORNEY;

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Oct. 11, 1938. R. A. JONES CARTON LOADING MACHINE Filed OCf.A 4, 1935 Patented Oct. ll, 1938 UNITED "STATES v 5 2,133,248` CARTON LOADING mon PATENT .OFFICE y -'Ruel Anderson. Jones, Covington, Ky., assignor to The R. A. Jones & Company, e Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Inc., Covington,

Application October 4, 1935, Serial No. 43,559 s claims. -(CL 22e-'2) to be pushed into `the cartons during the con-- tinuous travel of the conveyors.

The present invention primarily relatesto the structure of the carton and merchandise conveyors, whereby regulation can be made for different sizes or capacities of cartons and mer- Y chandise to be packed therein. Qther features of the invention relate to improvements in the mechanism for pushing the mechandise into the cartons under continuous travel and automatic transmission control-for automatically stopping the transmission in the event any obstruction is encountered in starting to push a piecev of merchandise into a respective carton.

The improvements are incorporated in a type of machine disclosed and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,935,269 issued to me November 14, 1933, and to which reference. is directed for a disclosure of such parts of a complete machine which are not incorporated herein nor form a part of the present invention.

The cartons preferably are supplied to the machine in a collapsed or fiat form stacked one upon another within a magazine, allowing the cartons of the stack each to assume a lowermost position to be consecutively ejected and then erected or squared and received bya continuously moving or traveling conveyor which sustainsl each carton in its squared condition and in spaced relation to one another, each open at one end to receive the mechandise packed'therein.

The mechandise is conveyed by a continuously traveling conveyor alongside the vcarton conveyor, the mehandlse for each respective carton being disposed within or upon a pocket or compartment moving in relative alignment and corresponding rate with a respective cartonv or carton space of the carton conveyor, adapting the same to be engaged by a continuously moving or traveling pusher moving in a directionwith the merchandise and carton and also transversely thereto toward the open end of `a relative carton to move and transfer the merchandise from a pocket or holder into a carton, and under a preferred arrangement a plurality of pushers are simulta neously active for simultaneously inserting several pieces of merchandise into respective cartons. In the present invention the erected or squared cartons, as conveyed for loading, are respectively engaged between fingers extending from a:con 5 veyor, and'rbetween a pair of superposed stationary rails, the fingers and rails formng pockets each confining a carton engaged therein against col-v lapse and horizontal or vertical displacement.l

The fingers are arranged at definite intervals or '10 uniform spacing apart upon an endless chain or belt, the spacing accommodating for a maximum width or size carton. To provide for handling a reduced width or size of carton or regulation of the carton receiving spacing or pocket, a second 15 group of fingers of a number corresponding to that of the primary group are employed. The fingers of the second group, at definite intervals or uniform spacing apart, are carried by an inor rotatively adjusting the driving wheel with the belt in either forward orcreverse direction about its axis, whereby the fingers of one group may be unitarily shifted from an aligned or registering dependent endless chain or belt, translating in v20 position with corresponding fingers of a second 30 ygroup to an offset or staggered position,`presenting the fingers of one group correspondingly to bear against one side of the cartons conveyed, while those of av second group' bear against or serve. an opposite side of thecartons.

Similar provision is made l size or changing the capacity of the pockets o r compartments of the mechandise conveyor. lThe merchandise holding pockets yare preferably formed by opposing sections, carried by separate endless chains or beltstranslated in unison and capable of being individually shifted for an advancel or retard setting, 'as by rotatively adjusting the driving Wheel therefor about its axis, whereby the sections of the opposing Agroups may be relatively adjusted, thereby increasing-or diminishing the size or capacity of the pockets respectively. By thisunethod the` pockets of the merchan-l dise and carton conveyor can be relatively adjusted for registration and alignment. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a carton loading machine with adjoining conveyors, traveling in unison, one for conveying a'plurality of cartons in an open condition and for regulating the 3 the other for conveying the mechandise in juxtaposition to an open end of the cartons, adapting the mechandisevto be pushed into the cartons under the continuous travel of the conveyors, the conveyors both having pockets, respectively, for the appropriate reception of the carton and merchandise, the pockets .of each preferably formed by opposing sections or members relatively adjustable to change or vary the pocket size or capacity, adapting the machine for packing merchandise -in various sizes of cartons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton loading machine 'wherein a plurality of cartons are conveyed with and in junta position to the merchandise to be packed therein, with a continuously traveling conveyor, conveying a plurality of fingers or plungers transversely and progressively in unison with the cartons and merchandise, each for respectively pushing merchandise into a carton. 'Ihe plungers are guided and directed for an active period .when engaging and moving merchandise by ayielding rail or shoe, the shoe actuated by any of the active plungers, to stop the operation of the machine whenever plunger traverse is restrained as by conflict between carton and merchandise or interference with a freedom of traverse of the merchandise into the carton.

Various other features and advantages `of the invention will be more fully set forth in the de.

scription of the accompanying drawings, in which: 'I i Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of th carton conveyor and merchandise conveyor and of the loader mechandism, for moving the merchandise within trays or pockets of the' merchandise conveyor into an open end of respective cartons conveyed by the carton conveyor.v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the loader mechanism. disclosing the means employed for automatically controlling the ltransmission of the loader mechanism to stop the samein the event any obstruction is encountered in starting to push a piece of merchandise into a carton.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figure 1.

Figure 6'is a diagrammatic view of electric wiring or circuit lines of the automatic transmission controller for the loader mechanism.

Figure 7 is'a fragmentary side elevation of th carton conveyor. n

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 4. Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9, Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a section Yon line I0- |0, Figure '7.v

Figure 11 ls a detailed side elevation of a ,section of the carton conveyor illustrating one of the positionsof adjustment of the upwardly projecting lugs or fingers employed for sustaining the cartons in a squared or erected position.

Figure 12 is a section on line |2|2, Figure 3.

Figure 13 is a section similar to Figure 12 of the idler sprockets of the merchandise conveyor for the opposite ends of the sprocket chain from the driving sprockets, illustrated in Figure 12.

The cartons, in a squared or erected state, are conveyed at relative spacing apart upon and between parallel rails by a plurality of parallel sprocket chains carrying laterally exten'ded flngers, respectively for engaging opposite'l as fore and aft, sides of the'carton. The fingers and rails confine the cartons against collapse as they are being conveyed alongside a merchandise conveyor for pushing or transferring the merchannally into an open end of tlie'cartons in their continuous travel. The sprocket wheels for the chains are relatively rotatively adjustable upon their shafts for shifting opposing setsof fingers toward or from each other for changing the distance of finger spacing, or width dimension of pocket, for the reception of different. sizes of cartons.

The cartons, in seriatim, are inserted or deposited each in a, spacing between fore and aft fingers, preferably at one loop end of the chains, as the fingers are moving in an arc about one of the sprocket wheelsin the transfer from the return run to the forward run of the chains. This opens the spacing or pocket formed bya vset of fingers for a horizontal entrance of a carton therein and between the rails in spaced tier arrangement for respectively contacting top and bottom sides of the carton and against and'along detail description of mechanism thereof is embodied or incorporated herein.

The cartons are of the usual commercial type, consisting of a rectangulan body having closure flaps at the opposite longitudinal ends thereof. The main closure tucking aps, particularly for the loading open end of the cartons, as theyare being conveyed for loading are sustained in' an' upwardly outstretched position upon a guide rail,

not shown, to be in the clear, away from any loading interference.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates the framing of the machine and may follow any pre-- ferred design or structure for mounting and supporting the various parts of the machine. The cartons, as individuallyejected from a magazine in a collapsed condition, are erected and disposed between spaced parallel rails, superposed or in tier arrangement, consisting of a pair of upper rails 2 2, and a pair oi' lower rails 3 3.- I'he` l spacing Yof the upper and lower rails is proportionateto the cross-sectional dimension of a given size of carton so as to have the rails respectively contact with the top and bottom walls of an erected carton, the cartons, as conveyed, guidingly sliding thereon. 'I'he upper rails 2-2 'are adapted to be adjusted vertically to change the rail spacing and accommodate for various sizes of cartons.

The carton conveyor comprises a4 pair of com. panipn, endless sprocket chains l, l, with each chain engaged about and in mesh with the teeth of a respective driving sprocket wheel I fixed upon a cross shaft i, suitably journalled in bearings mounted upon the machine framing and with idler sprocket wheels 1--1 upon a shaft 8 suitably journalled. The transmission for the',

i and upon a stationary plate-or rail 9 xed to the r longitudinally of guide rails and respectively rel-- atively along opposite sides .of the lower rails 3, 3

machine framing to prevent chain sag.

The companion chains 4, 4, each at intervals, are provided with laterally extended ngers' I0,

the flngersof the two chains arranged in aligned sets to serve in unison for engaging an aft side of the carton to translate the same. Employing a pair or set of fingers provides for a plural point contact, with the-carton holding it more stable in its translation. Each finger is appropriately the chain I2 they can be located alongside of the fingers I 0 in an ineffective position.

fixed to one side of a link of the chain, as shown in Figure 10.

'I'he interval spacing of the fingers-provides for a maximum size or width of cartonan'd from which the spacing or pocket is reduced or regulated for smaller sized cartons by fingers II laterally extending from a third or auxiliary endless sprocket chain I2 located between the chains 4, 4 and traveling in unison therewith. 'I'he fingers I I engage with a fore side of the cartons and each cooperates with a set of fingers of the chains 4, 4

for clasping a carton therebetween. The fingers II are of smaller width dimension than the fingers IIJ-and their interval spacing the same as that of the fingers I so that by an adjustment of The intermediate or auxiliary sprocket chain I2 is engaged over a driving sprocket wheel I3 fixed to the shaft 6 and over an idler sprocket wheel I4 on the shaft 8. As shown in Figure 9 the driving sprocket wheel I3 and one of thedriving sprocket wheels 5, have their webs recessed respectively in opposite sides of a hub I5 and unitarily rigidly clamped thereto by a `bolt I6 traversing through the hub and through an arcuate slot I1 in each of the sprocket wheels 5 and I3. Upon unclamping the bolt I6 the sprocket wheel 5 can4 be rotatively adjusted on the hub I5 for shifting its sprocket chain 4 to accurately set the fingers I 0 in alignment with the companion ngers of the second sprocket-chain 4, and likewise the sprocket wheel I3'can be rotatively adjusted upon the hub I5 independently of the sprocket wheel 5 lfor shifting the sprocket chain I2 for `regulatablypositioning the fingers II each relative to a set of fingers I0 of the chains 4, 4 to accommodate for a change in size of carton.

'I'he idler sprocket I4 for the intermediate or auxiliary chain I2 has its web loosely recessed into a side of the hub I8 which iixedly carries one of the idler sprocket wheels 1, as shown in Figure 9.

A merchandise conveyor moves in parallelism along one sidev of thev carton conveyor and at a corresponding rate of travel. The merchandise is carried in pockets of channel form, each in registry or alignment with a carton space Vor` pocket of the carton conveyor so that the merchandise can be' pushed longitudinally of the pocket into a carton while both conveyors are in motion. Provision is made to have an ample '.number of pockets moving in the forward run so that they can be manually supplied by an operator, before each, in its order, reaches a point where the loading mechanism comes into action therewith.

The merchandise conveyor comprises a pair of adjoining, endless sprocket chains I9, I9,` each engaging over a respective driving sprocket wheel 20 fixed or keyed upon a driving shaft 20'l and about an idler sprocket wheel 2l loosely journalled upon the cross shaft). As shownin Figures l2 and 13, the sprocket wheel structures are therewith. i. 'I'he loading mechanism is disposed at the endsimilar to those of the carton conveyor for chain shifting to adjust the capacity'. of the pocket. The driving sprocket wheels have their webs recessed, respectively, linto the opposite sides of a hub 22, and clamped thereto by a bolt 2 3 traversing through the huband through an arcuate slot in each of thejsprocket wheels. One of the idler sprocket wheels 2I is loosely journalled upon the hub 24, carrying the second idler sprocket wheel,

and held thereon by a collare-25 iix'ed upon the hub 24. l

'The pockets 28 for holding the merchandise are l each formed of a pair ofopposingly disposed` angle plates 21, 21. Each angle plate4 is'xed to a respective chain I9, the'sectional arrangement permitting the width of the pocket to be extended or contracted by relatively shifting the chains lengthwise. The pockets are open at their opor plunger to be passed therethrough for engaging the merchandise therein and pushing the same from the pocket into a carton.

Each pocket section 2,1 has its base ange seposite longitudinal ends permitting a pusher arm cured to a pair of angle clips 28, 28 iixedto a link of a chain I9. The sprocket chains I9, I9,

for their forward' runs, slide upon a stationary rail or track to prevent chain sag. 'Ihe merchandise is pushed or conveyed fro the merchandise conveyor or pockets thereof into cartons by a plurality of continuously moving or traveling fingers or plungersA 29, uniformly spaced .apart and extending from an endless conveyor or chain 30-located at an elevation abtve and angle to the mechandise conveyor so that the plungers travel in a path intersecting the merchandise conveyor. The plungers thus mve laterally and in unison with .the pockets 26, adapting each plunger to enter. a pocket from one end and pass longitudinally therethrough to engage the merchandise therein and push. the same therefrom into a carton alignedand moving in registry of the merchandise conveyor so that after the foremost plunger in the forward run of the endless chain 30 lhas pushed the merchandise completely into theA carton, the empty pocket is at the end of its forward course of travel approaching the return arc about a 'sprocket wheel, whereupon 4it will recede and move downwardly away from the plunger whichalso is traveling in a return arc, although horizontally, so that both plunger a driving sprocket Wheel 3l and an idler sprocket wheel 32. The driving sprocket wheel 3| is journalled upon a stud shaft 33 fixed to and vertically extending from a horizontal bracket plate 34. Thebracketplate 34 is mounted upon the upper end of a. vertical post 35, carried by abracket 36 fixed to the machine frame, 4

-A pinion 31 is xed upon the hub of the driving sprocket wheel 3| in mesh with an intermediate gearl 38 journalled upon a vertical Stud shaft carried by the bracket plate 34. 'Iheintermediate gear 38 is in mesh-With a third gear 39 iixed upon within an eccentric bushing secured within thebracket plate 34.

The merchandise pusher plungers 29 are of bell crank lever form, providing an arm terminating with a laterally depending flat faced head 44, of arrow-point outline, to broadwise abutting contact with the merchandise in a conveyor pocket. In Figure 1 v the merchandise is displayed in dotted lines, as bottles, with the heads 44 of several plungers, each engageda'gairist the bottom of a bottle in a pocket which the plunger traverses. An opposite arm of the plunger 29 is pivotally connected to the endless chain 30, preferably with the connecting joint kof a pair of links. The

plunger, intermediately, has a stud 45 laterally extending from a lower side thereof, journalling a roller 46 engaged andtrailing within a groove or guideway 41- in the upper side of the bracket plate 34. The groove or guideway prescribing an endless course, has an inward. offset at the end of a forward straightaway stretch, as at 48, for controlling and governing the movement of the plungers. The offset determines the extent of pocket traversing movement, limiting its pushing influence upon the merchandise to a point which will appropriately dispose the same within a carton, whereupon the plunger is slightly retracted away from contact with the merchandise, continuing, however, in unison travel therewith until the plunger travel is `diverted and recedes therefrom, resulting from its advancing in an arc about the driving sprocket wheel and return curve in the course of the guideway 41.

From Figure 1 it will be observed that the forward straightaway path or line in the course'of the guideway 41 is located alongside the outer side of the forward run of the-chain 30 and parallel therewith. disposing the chain connecting or hitching arm'of the plunger at an acute angle to the line of the forward run of the chain, thereby positioning the head of the plunger in a plane in parallelism with-the bottom of the bottle or rear end of the merchandise. Under such arrangement any rearward pressure due to load r esist' ance or an obstruction interrupting the forward traverse of the plunger is imposed against the inner wall of the guideway without disturbing the chain or other plunger through chain exure.

A section of the 'inner wall of the guideway, as a loose element, provides a rail or shoe 49 hingedly or pivotally mounted upon av pair of companion -bellcrank levers- 5u, correspondingly positioned and suitably spaced apart and pivotally mounted upon the bracket yplate 34 within a recess in the top side of said bracket plate for fioatingly sustaining the shoe. 'Ihe opposite corresponding ends of the bell crank levers 50 are joined by a connecting link bar 5I which carries an electric circuit controlling switch contact 52 fixed to and projecting from an insulator block 53 fixed upon the connecting linkf5l. The contact 52, as a movable switch element, abuttingly contacts with a stationary contact 54 adjustably mounted and projecting from an insulator post 55 fixed to' and extended from the top side of the bracket plate The contacts are. normally held closed by a spring 56 having one endl fixed to the. bracket plate 34 and its opposite end fixed to one end ent invention.

of the connecting link 5l. The shoe 49, being in equalizing connection with the connecting link 5l, likewise is sustained under the tension of the spring 56 in its normal position for appropriately guiding the plungers during their active period when traveling in the straightaway forward path in the course ofthe guideway 1. Should, however, any one of the plungers raveling in the Working zone or active period encounter any im- 'pedance or interruption to its pocket traverse,

and at any point along the length of the shoe counteract to depress the shoe, the connecting link 5I will be moved longitudinally in a direction separating the contacts 52, 54, breaking an electric control circuit, thereby automatically stopping the'transmission of the several conveyors. As soon as the operator makes the necessary correction, to the relief of the shoe, th electric switch will again be closed for resuming operation of the conveyors.

As shown in the electric wiring diagram, Figure 6, the shoe-actuated electric switch controls the electric circuit to a motor, as representative of the main transmission medium for the several conveyors and other operating parts of the ma.-

chine, and also a magnetically operated brake for the armature shaftof the motor. This illustration is merely for 4exemplilcationv of one method of transmission automatic control, no

specific form or method of electrically controlled transmission beirg deemed as a part of the pres- The configuration of tlie guideway may prescribe any course or path most suitable for obtaining dennite movements or manipulations of the plungers for the kind of merchandise packed, or manner of packaging, and-the shoe as a section of a wall thereof preferably ofia length to be engaged by all of the plungersY of a group active in moving the merchandise from respective pockets of the merchandise conveyor into the cartons.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a` carton loading machine, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying a Aplurality of cartons in a consecutive order, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying merchandise in unison with the carton and in individual com-4 .plunger conveyor, disposed at anelevation above the merchandise conveyor, a plurality of plungers in a consecutive order hingedly connecting with said plunger conveyor, the plungers for an active period translated progressively with and h transversely across said merchandise conveyor,- each traversing a respective compartment for engaging the merchandise therein and pushing the same into the carton, and a stationary guideway at an elevation over said merchandise conveyor -for directing and sustaining the-plungers for an active period projectingly -from the conveyor,

said guideway leading away from the path of travel of the cartons for abruptly retractingthe plungers when the merchandise is fully inserted in the cartons.

2. In a'rton loading machine, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying a plurality of cartons in a consecutive order, a-continuously moving conveyor for conveying merchandise in unison with the cartons and in,individual compartmentsiri juxtaposition, each to a respective carton for adaptingthe merchandiseto be pushed -into the carton, a continuously moving plunger conveyor, a plurality of `plungers in a consecutive order hingedly connecting with said plunger conveyor and a stationary guideway for directing` and pivotally sustaining the plungers, whereby the plungers for an active period travel in unison.'v

each within arespective merchandise compartment for traversing the same to engage and push the merchandise into a carton, said guideway leading away from the path of travel of the cartons for abruptly retracting the plungers when the merchandise is fully inserted in the cartons.

3. In a' carton loading machinea continuously moving conveyor for conveying a plurality of cartons in a consecutive order, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying merchandise in unison with the cartons and in individual compartments in juxtaposition, each to a respective carton for adapting the merchandise to be pushed into the carton, a continuously moving` plunger.

period travel in unison with and. in a direc-l tion each to traverse a respective compartment to engage and push the merchandise into a carton, said guideway leadingaway from the path of travel of the cartons for abruptly retracting the plungers when the merchandise is fully inserted in the cartons.

4. In a carton loading machine, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying merchandise in individual compartments, each compartment' in endwise alignment with a carton moving in unison therewith, adapting the merchandise to be pushed into the carton, a continuously moving plunger conveyor, a plurality of plungers in a consecutive order connecting with said plunger conveyor, the plungers for an active period transe lated progressively with and in a direction each for traversing a compartment of said merchan- Vdise conveyor for pushing the merchandise into 'a carton, and-a stationary guidewayV for an operative control of said plungers having a rail forming a wall section of said guideway for an active period of plunger travel, movably mounted for actuation by a plunger restrained against traverse in a compartment and-controlling-the transmission of said conveyors.,

5. In a carton loading machine, a continuously moving conveyor for conveying merchandise in individual compartments, each compartment in endwise alignment with a carton moving in unison therewith, adapting the merchandise to be pushed into the carton, a. continuously moving plunger conveyor, a plurality 'of plungers in a consecutive order connecting with said plunger conveyor, the plungers for an active period translated progressively with and in a direction each for traversing a compartment of said merchan-l dise conveyorfor pushing the lmerchandise into aj carton, and a rail in the path of the active periody of plunger travel, movably mounted for actuation by a plunger restrained against traverse l in a compartment and controlling the transmission of said conveyors.

6. In a.- carton'loading machine, continuously moving parallel conveyors for respectively conveying cartons and merchandise in relative alignment, adapting the merchandise to be pushed into the cartons, an endless conveyor having a forward runextending obliquely to the line oi travel of said merchandise conveyor, carrying a plurality of plungers, eachadapted when conveyed in the forwardrun-oi' saidfendless con-y veyor Ato engage and-convey the merchandise for insertion into a. carton, and a track for guiding theplungers, said track converging upon the path of travel of the endless conveyor adjacent the point at whichthe plungers have fully in. serted the merchandise and therefore effective for abruptly retracting tlie plungers when 'the merchandise has been inserted in the cartons.

7. In a 'cartonloading` machine, continuously moving parallel conveyors for respectively con# veying vcartons and merchandise in relative alignment, adapting the4 merchandise to be pushed into the cartons, an endless conveyor.

having a forward run extending obliquely to the line of travelof said merchandise conveyor, carryinga plurality of plungers, each pivotally connecting with said conveyor and adapted 'when conveyed in the forward run of said endless con- .veyorto be swung to an extended position from the conveyor to engage and convey the merchandise for insertion into a carton, and a track for swinging the plungers, said track directed' away from the path of travel of the cartons at y that end of the conveyor adjacent the cartons for withdrawing the plungers when the merchandise has been fully inserted in the cartons.

1 8. In a machine for inserting merchandise in cartons, a conveyor for the cartons, a conveyor for the merchandise, said conveyors conveying the cartons and merchandise in 'alignment for insertion, a'series of plungers, means carrying andmoving said plungers in an oblique path relative to the path of travel of the cartons, and a guideway for said plungers causing the plungers to move toward they cartons, said guideway including a-portion leading away from the path of travel of the cartons and adapted to withdraw the plungers when thev merchandise has been fully inserted.

9. In a machine for inserting merchandise in cartons, a -conveyor for the cartons, a conveyor for the merchandise, said conveyors conveying the cartons and merchandise in alignment for insertion, a series of plungers, means carrying and-moving said plungers in an oblique path rel-7 ative to the path of travel of the cartons, and a guideway for said plungers causing .the plungers to move toward the cartons, said 'guideway including a portion disposed angularly with respect to the path of travel of the plunger car rying and moving means and away from the path of travel of the cartons for retracting the plungers when the merchandise' hasV been. in-

serted in the cartons.

RUEIL ANDERSON JONES. 

